A Tyre is significantly the most important component of a vehicle. It is primarily the source of union between a vehicle and road affecting the driving experience.

Generally, we tend to overlook the role of tyres in a vehicle and fail to check them at regular intervals, which results in fairly lower performance.

It is inevitable to keep the tyres from wearing out, but the rate of wearing out is completely driven by the steps we take to maintain them.  

In this article, we will explore Tyre cuts as a damage and the various ways we can help avoid them.

How Tyre cut occurs?

In general, tyres are susceptible to an external force, especially the surface on which they are operated. Usually, they are affected by rubbing the surface containing sharp objects such as glasses, nails, stones, etc.

These can generate a deep Cut on the external rubber or more commonly the tread which can expose the ply cords built into the tyres.

The body of a tyre is made up of several layers, called plies. A tyre strength is determined by the number of plies built into it.

So, when a tyre is hit by a sharp object, it tends to have an impact on the outermost casing of these plies and creates a cut which can even penetrate if not checked properly.

How to discover Tyre cuts?

The response to this is straightforward, always perform a visual examination of the tyres on a regular basis. The criteria for assessing cuts in tyres can be challenging, so let’s keep a few things in mind.

• Firstly, on visual examination of any tyre surface, if a cut is evident and the inner cords are visible – it must simply be replaced.
• If the cord is not seen, then it needs a little more assessment. For example, cuts are measured against the proportion of the tyre section width.
• If the cut is shorter than 10% of the section width it is okay to pass with it, but if it’s more than 10% you must visit your nearest tyre repair shop and get that tear fixed.

Note: If the weave of the casing is seen under the rubber, it is arguably a serious cut and must be addressed immediately.

Overlooking such cuts can be dangerous as they might affect the inner layers, especially when an object penetrates inside the cut and eventually increases the chances of punctures or damage to the plies.

How a Tyre cut affects your driving?

It is important to keep the tyre in shape without such cuts, to resist external impact and to ensure the driving is least intrusive of vibrations and risks of punctures.

If you drive on a tyre that has a deep cut, you can damage it beyond repair. If the cut is not addressed, the inner liner of the sidewall will wear away and weaken the sidewall.

How to prevent Tyre cuts from happening?

The best way to avoid this is to steer clear of unpaved roads or rough surfaces. if you must take an unpaved road, avoid driving fast or rash.

Having your tyres checked for any cuts at regular intervals will increase the life of the tyres and prevent unexpected delays fixing the recurring punctures.

Conclusion

Therefore, next time you head on to an unpaved surface, ensure you don’t steer aggressively and cause undesirable cuts to the tyres.

In case the tyres have cuts it is always advisable to get them checked for their severity before it gets worse.